Chương 21: Chapter 20: Deal with the Devil

After a long night of writing and compiling, Micheal tucked his finished reports into a large brown envelope. He pulled out the runic slip of paper from his back pocket and stared at it for a good few seconds. Then he grabbed a bottle of brandy from his drawer and took a light swig. The hot, burning taste down his throat was barely enough to keep him calm. With envelope in hand, he went downstairs and into their living chamber. Marco lounged on the sofa by the fireplace, reading the morning paper.

"Good morning," he said, not even bothering to look back.

"Burn this for me, boy." Micheal tossed the slip over. Marco caught it mid-air, and only then did he look at Micheal.

"You're finally done?"

"Everything he'd ever want is in that envelope." Marco snapped his fingers, and the piece of paper burst into flames, shriveling up into motes of ash.

"Anything else you need me to do?"

"Cook breakfast, and make it decent this time."

"You just don't appreciate good cooking." Micheal scoffed.

"Just do it, boy." He turned around and went inside his office chamber. Micheal placed the envelope on his office table, turning it so it was facing the front door. Then he aligned both of their chairs, making sure that his stood taller by placing a cushioned pillow on the seat. He lit a pair of incense candles, one in each corner; they were known to drive off evil spirits and to calm demihumans. Besides, he liked the comforting smell of spices. With a deep breath, Micheal sat down, crossed his legs, and waited.

Jaime seems like a stubborn man. But I already know what to say to him. Just give him the information and tell him what happened. He should figure it out. Any demi that could do that is very dangerous. I'm just a private investigator, for the Lady's sake. I pity Eliza and her mother, and I pity everyone else too. But that doesn't mean I need to help every single victim. Just them. Just what I can afford. The bell by the front door rang, but no footsteps followed. He's here.

Micheal straightened his back and readied himself. Soon after, Jaime entered the room, his strides silent as though he was levitating off the ground. His cold silver eyes glazed over Micheal, and he said, "Good morning, Mr. Detective."

"Take a seat, Sir Jaime." Micheal tapped the brown envelope.

"Everything is in here." Jaime sat down, his expression unchanging. He grabbed the envelope and tucked it inside his great coat.

"As I expected, you are quick."

"You're… you're not going to read it?" Micheal furrowed his brows.

"Tell me what you found out, Detective. I'll take a look when I get home." Jaime's face was devoid of emotion as he gazed deep into Micheal's eyes. Fuck, he's one creepy bastard.

"If that's what you want." Micheal took a deep breath and spoke of the Baruch family. He told of their home, their names, ages, backgrounds, everything that was worth telling. It felt unnerving revealing all those things to a stranger, but at the end of the day it was his job.

"On the twelfth of Justasi, somewhere around twelve at midnight, an unknown entity visited the Baruchs. It came from the shadows, and it took the form of a man. It was made of darkness; it had neither a face nor an actual body, but it had bright red eyes." He paused for a second, observing Jaime's unchanging expression. He's not reacting at all. What kind of bloodline makes someone like that? The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"It went over to the two Baruchs, and it cursed the younger. But after a few days, the elder also awakened." A frown tugged on Jaime's lips.

"Two of them awakened?"

"Yes."

"Where is the other one now?"

"She hid her awakening, and she continues to take care of her mother."

"Eliza Baruch… how curious. Continue on."

"Just as that creature was about to depart, it stopped. And it looked at me." Micheal felt a cold sweat run down his spine just by recounting that sight.

"It saw me through my Witnessing. I wasn't looking at a Historical Figure anymore; it was there, right in front of me." Jaime slowly nodded, his gaze still void of emotion. I expected a different reaction. He reacted more to Eliza than to the creature. Is he… not as knowledgeable as I thought?

"If it's capable of doing that, it's a very powerful demihuman. Likely a sixth generation, maybe even below that." Micheal gritted his teeth.

"I take it that you want to stop," Jaime said.

"I think it is the best course of action, for both of us. Let the Church deal with it, Sir Valentine. I understand your worries, but… something like that is… is beyond me. I am just an eighth generation." Micheal chortled a half-nervous laugh. Jaime tapped his end of the table.

"Have you considered that creature might not be as powerful as you think? After all, you are still here, aren't you?" For some reason, Micheal felt compelled to lean forward to state his case.

"I was just lucky. If things had gone differently, this meeting wouldn't have happened."

"At a certain point, luck becomes a non-factor. If it was as powerful as you imagined, you wouldn't have left that house no matter what. Why would it let you live? If I were a lower generation, I would have killed you, being the pesky little investigator you are."

"Beings like that… they toy with people. They play with their minds; they make people suffer for entertainment. It didn't kill me because it thought that letting me live was simply more entertaining."

"But this one is clearly planning something. It is rational, and with the Church already on its tail, I'd say it wouldn't let a mere private investigator meddle with its affairs so easily. Unless it can't do anything to stop you." The scent in the air turned sweet, and Micheal felt a strange warmth rise from his loins, wrapping around him like a comforting blanket. He has a point… That thing only looked at me; it didn't do anything else. Even when I returned for a second time, nothing happened.

Even when I spoke to one of its awakened, nothing happened. But… it's frightening. If it's capable of seeing me through my Witnessing, what else is it capable of? Jaime pulled out his wallet and placed down the promised two hundred Leon. Then he put down another two hundred.

"I have another family for you to investigate." Micheal gulped and muttered, "It is too dangerous…"

"You're already meddling with Church affairs; clearly danger isn't a problem for you. And a part of me thinks that you also want to know the truth."

"You don't know me, Sir Valentine."

"But I'm sure of one thing: you like money. Continue working for me, and by the time you're done, you could settle down in the Capital with your own family, with enough to spare for a small business." My own family? One could hope… one could hope… but it does sound pleasing.

"Who do you want me to investigate?" Micheal said.

"The von Austig family. Their son, Marley von Austig, is also an awakened."

"Nobles?"

"Argent Nobles. I won't have you investigate an actual noble, don't worry."

"I would have kicked you out of here if that were the case," Micheal chuckled.

"My daughter says they have a manor somewhere in White Tower. Will you investigate them?" Nobles would be difficult to convince; even Argent Nobles are already under the control of the Church.

"It would be hard. I doubt they'd just let me waltz inside their manor."

"Of course, since they're nobles, the pay would be fitting as well. Four hundred Leon." Micheal's eyes widened. Four hundred? How… how rich is he? That's enough to buy myself two ghouled horses, a coach, and a private carriage.

"Just… who are you, Sir Valentine?"

"I am just a concerned father. As far as you're concerned." Four hundred Leon… and if I know more, I could help Eliza and her mom. Just one more. I'll be careful. Extremely careful. Micheal took a deep breath and extended his hand.

"It's a pleasure doing business with you." Jaime's lips twitched into a light smirk.

"The pleasure is mine." He shook Micheal's hand.

"I'd need another one of those slips of yours."

"Right, I nearly forgot." Micheal reached into his desk and pulled out a paper slip with an engraved rune.

"I will call for you within the week."

"I am expecting good things from you." Jaime pocketed the paper slip.

"Goodbye, Mr. Detective. May your woes be little, and your fortunes be many." He turned around and departed from the office. When Micheal heard the bell ring, he grabbed the stack of Leon bills and hurried into their living room. Marco was wearing a brown apron and was already setting their plates on the small dining table.

"How did it go?" Micheal placed the money on the old table.

"Looks like we're going to White Tower, boy."